19:30 Chester

Friday 14 July 2023

All17:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

Expleo Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 38.46s

(3)

Dark Pine^b³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 91| C

11/1

Turned in his best effort of the season back on turf when second of 11 over the extended 1¼m here in May. Not seen to best effect when sixth of 10 at Haydock (1½m) since and still in form.

Form: 44-7026

(8)

Baryshnikov⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Billy Garritty| T: T D Barron| OR: 90| BF| C

3/1

Course winner. Fourth of 7 in handicap at Ripon (1¼m, good, 11/2) 4 days ago, nearest finish after short of room.

Form: 363234

(5)

Mr Curiosity¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 89

18/1

Fifth of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (1¼m, 40/1) on reappearance 13 days ago, needing stiffer test.

Form: 104/88-5

(2)

Box To Box²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 88| CD

4/1

9/4, career best when winning 9-runner handicap here (extended 1¼m, good) 27 days ago, taking his course record to 3-4. Needs considering up 3 lb.

Form: 449-061

(9)

Dream Harder¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S D Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| BF

11/2

Good advert for this yard, gaining fourth success of a fruitful AW campaign at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in February. Hard to knock his efforts in defeat since, although his latest Carlisle sixth was only respectable.

Form: 453426

(1)

Sonnerie Power^h1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 84

9/2

Respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at Chelmsford (1¼m) 22 days ago. Hood on first time. Likely to be in the mix again from a handy inside stall.

Form: 614-344

(4)

Cormier¹³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 84| CWS

11/2

Won over the extended 1¼m here last July. Has struggled in varied events since and hopes pinned on a wind operation since last seen in March sparking him back to form.

Form: 63/1980-

(10)

Demilion¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 81

9/1

Winning handicap debut at Wolverhampton in January. Better form when runner-up on 2 of his next 3 outings but needs to shrug off poor efforts the last twice.

Form: 124200

Non-Runners

(7)

Ferrari Queen²²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: C Johnston J: A Mullen

(6)

Sovereign Spirit²¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Hayley Turner

Forecasts

Baryshnikov (3/1), Box To Box (4/1), Sonnerie Power (9/2), Dream Harder (11/2), Cormier (11/2), Ferrari Queen (8/1), Demilion (9/1), Sovereign Spirit (10/1), Dark Pine (11/1), Mr Curiosity (18/1)

In an open race the vote goes to Andrew Balding's SOVEREIGN SPIRIT racing outside of his own age group for the first time. Box To Box's excellent course record makes him a must for the shortlist, while Sonnerie Power is also respected after 3 solid efforts this term.